Counterweight



March 3, 931. J. 1.. OSBORNE COUNTERWEIGHT Filed NOV. 7, 1928 omva R BY [Z ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 means 7 I-P ca Jomr njosnonun; or noennsrna; NEW YoRK AssIG1\ oR tr'o GEnERAL RAILWAY 1 SIGNAL COMPANY, 'OERQCHES'IER, NEW YORK co nncrnnwniezrr Y 7 Application filed November '2', 1928. Serial No. 317,8?4.

This invention relates in general wimprovem'ents in light signals, relays and the like for use in railway operation, andhas more particular reference to ineansfor min imizing the energy required formaintainin'g a rockable shaft in energized position, and for effectually preventing overrun of such shaft on movement from'energized to de-energiz'ed position. 5

In relays and light signals it is usual to employ arockable shaft biased to 'a'n'eutral position and'selectively energizable to move to a normal or reverse energized position. In moving the shaft to an'energized position energy is required to overcome the bias caused by the biasingmeans, while upon deenergizr ingthe device, the shaft is moved to'neutral position and tends to overrun beyond the neutral position due to acquired momentum. It is of course desirable to use as littleenergy as possible toproperly move the shaft to energized position, and it is also desirable to prevent as'largely as possible any overrun of the shaft, as thesame causes opening-and closing of contacts in a relay or flashing of a signalindication in alight signal.

With the above and other. objects in view it is proposed, in accordance with this invention, to'provide a counter-weight for eifectually accomplishing the above set forth desirable functions. More specifically, the shiftable counter-weight of this inventioncomprises a casing having a partition dividing it into two chambers with a passageway between the two .chambers, whereby mercury or the likein the casing can .transfer from one chamber to another by gravity. Due to movement of the casing which is fixed to rock 7 with the shaft, the mercury transfers from one chamber to another in a manner to minimize the energy required to hold the shaft in energized position, and upon de-energization, the mercury is already positioned so as to effectually prevent undue overrun beyond de-energized position. i I )1 j Further objects, purposes and characteristicfeatureswillappear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, showing, solely. by wayjof example, and not in any manner in a nail indications.

limiting sense, one form which the invention can assume. In thedrawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention, with parts shown in section. F ig. 2 is a front elevation of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the shiftable counter-weight, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4. Fig.4 is a side elevational view of the shiftable counter-weight.

Figs. 5-8 inclusive are diagrammatic views showing variousoperative positions of the shiftable counter-weight.

Referring nowto thefdrawings, a spindle 1 is pivoted in any desired or usual manner so as to rock about a horizontal axis? Sleeved on the spindle 1 is a sleeve member 2, fixed to spindle so as to rotate therewith, the sleeve member including, a fixed counter-weight 3 and a bracket member 41. Connected to the green respectively, forgiving distinctive sig- Fastened to the member i is a usual'vane 10 arranged to cooperate with field members, notlshown', whereby it can be operated so asto rock spindle 1 either clockwise orcounter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby to interchange the positions occupied by' the different glasses 7 9 carried by the spectacleso as to give 'arious indications.

The operation of the vane l0 and of the spectacle 6 can be such, for example, as occurs in the patentto W. D. I-Iailes 1,617,247

February 8, 1927, the patent to Carter 1,667,469 April 24, 1928, and the applications of ,Merkle and Field respectii ely, SCI. Nos. 132,835 filed August 31, 1926, and 128,463? filed AugnstlO, 1926.

L The shiftable counter-weight of this inven tion, as best shown in Fig. 3, comprises a casing C having an inner partition 11 separating the interior of the castingiinto two cham-v bers 12 and 13, a passage 14being formed in the partition in its lower portion and a passage 15 being formed in its :upper portion, whereby mercury or like heavy liquid, placed in thechambers12 and 13, can readilytransfer from'one chamber to said other chamber under the force of said gravity through passage 14-, while the passage 15 prevents the device from becoming air bound.

In the partition 11 is a hole 16 forreceiving the end of spindle 1, and a hole 17 for receiving a screw or. the like 18 for fastening the casing C rigidly tothe'member' whereby the casing C, the sleeve 2, and the spindle 1, the weight 3 and the spectacle 6 all rock together under the influenceof the vane. 10'

As shown in Fig. 3, the casing C, prefen ably cast, is formed with two openings 19 and 20 for removingthe cores after which these openings are sealed by plugs 19 and 20 which are'fixed in. place by. welding or the like. the plug: 20 havingfa drilled hole 21- therein through which mercury is poured into the chamber 12and 13, thehole- 21 then being. plugged up in any suitable n'ian'ner. The passage 14: in the partitionll is.- formed by drilling the same tln'oughthe casing C, the resultinghole 22: in the casing being thereafter sealed by a pin23 which iswelded or otherwise retained in'place.

With the parts as shownin Fig. 2, the spectacle 6 is positioned to have the glass-8 in the path of light from'a, light source (not showing) whereby to give a signal indication, such as red, for indicating stop. The various parts connected to the spindle 1 are so proportioned th at there is only a very'slight bias on the spindle 1 to the de-energized position, as shown in Fig. 2, the vanelO, cotmter-weight 3 and shiftalole counterweight just slightly over-balancing. the spectacle'6 and the member l.

On energization of the device so as torock the spindle and easing C counterclockwise, for example, as viewedin Fig. 3, the mercury in chamber 12v is transferred under the force of gravity into chamber 13 through passage 14:. As shown diagrammatically in Figs. 58, as casing 6 moves from its de-energized position D, as shown in Fig. 5, to normal energized position N, asshown in Fig. 6,- the mercury does not immediately run out. of chamber 12, since the. aperture 1 1 is too. small to permit this. As soon, however, as vane 10 has reached its normal position, the mercury quickly transfers from chamber- 12. into chamber 13 soas to bring about. the condition shown in Fig. 7 where practically all of the mercury-is in the chamber 13, which chamber 13, it will be noted, lies closer to the vertical axis D (passingthrough. the de-energized position) than does. chamber 12, and, hence does not exert as large a torque tending to rock shaft as it would if'positionedpartly in chamber 12 back to de-energizedposition. Asa result, less energy. isrequiredito main tain the spindle. in its normal position, than would be required'if. a fiiced. counter-weight were used, .so. inwliich. eventpthe weight dis tribution would have to remain: as. show niin Fig. 6 (i. e., not subject to a shift from chamber 12 to chamber 13).

Upon de-energization of the device, the mercury which is all in chamber 13, as shown in Fig. 7, exerts a bias on the spindle 1 toward de-energized position. As the spindle rocks clockwise, the'center gravity of the mass of mercury in chamber 13 reaches a position vertically below the axis of rotation, before-the vane and spectacle have reached de-energized position, by an amount equal to the angle a as indicated in Fig. 8, the size of angle a depending on the proportioning of the various parts. From the position I shown in Fig. 8, the mercury in chamber 13 exerts a'retarding'etlectron further movement of the partsto the left, andzhen'ce prevents a large overrun to-the. left. past positionv D, since the retarding ettect is brought into action. considerz'xbly before (by amount of angle a.) the spindle and connected fixed .parts have reached de-energiz ed position The passage 14; in partition vllis so proportioned that on de-cnergization,.the spindle 1 reac-hesthe positionI, indicated-inFig: 8, before any appreoiableammint of mercury has been transferredbacli.into'c-hamber 12 from-chamber 13, butthe. passa e l l is large enough. so that: immediately after-reaching suchposition I (Fig, 8) aitransfer. of mercury quickly. takes place fromchamber 1.3 intochamber 12.t0 shortly. reach the. c-ondi:- tion shown-in Fig, 5, and thus bring the. spindle. to rest in. tie-energized position D, with very. little overrun.

Onenergizing. the device to the reverse po-. sition the'sameoperation, in reverse direction, takes place as described above.

It is thusseen .that with the shiftable counter-weight, the center ofgravity of theweight shifts relatively'to the spindle 1: in sucha manner thaton energizatiomit' shifts toward the tie-energized position D, when the spindle is movedtoieither the normal position-N, or the reverse position R, to thereby. exert a turningmoment on the spindle toward deenergized position having, an arm 24 which is considerably shorter than arm 25. which would be. the. effective arm it the counterweight were not. shiftable. Inthismanner less energy isrequiredto holdthc device in energized. position than would otherwise be the. case.

It. isalso. apparent from the above that upon d'e-energizationof; the device; .the spindie. 1 isxbiaseditoideeenergized position from either normal or. reverse. position, the mer= cury. having shifted while in. the energized positionto be sov disposedthat the. shiftable counter-Weight reaches. a position of. stable equilibrium I before the spindle. 1.1:eachesdeenergizedlposition to. thereby. initiate. a retarding eifect. on. overrun. prior. to, the. time whentlie spindle reaches its die-energized position D'." f Y we ness amount of mercury will transfer from one chamber to the other before the spindle reaches the overrun preventing initiating position I, as indicated in Fig. 8, at which position a braking effect is initiated on over-.

run of the spindle.

The above rather specific description of one form of the present invention is given solely byway of illustration, and is not intended in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, the invention can as. sulne many different physical forms, and is susceptible of numerous modifications, and

all such forms and modifications are intended to be covered by this application, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I now claim 1. In a light signal, in combination, a spindle pivoted to rock on a horizontal axis from a pendent, de-energized position indicating danger, to an energized position, and a counter-weight movable with said shaft and capable of shifting the center of gravity of its mass toward said axis upon movement of said spindle to energized position, said counter-weight, when at rest in pendent position, being in stable equilibrium, but upon moving from said energized position toward said pendent position, reaching a position of stable equilibrium before reaching said pendent position, whereby to effectually damp oscillations and minimize overrun to thus prevent momentary losing of a danger indication.

2. In a light signal, in combination, a spindle pivoted to rock on a horizontal axis from a pendent, de-energized position, to an energized position, and a counter-weight movable with said shaft and capable oi shifting the center of gravity of its mass toward said axis upon movement of said spindle to energized position, said counter-weight, when at rest in pendent position, being in stable equilibrium, but upon moving from said energized position toward said pendent position, reaching a posltion of stable equilibrium before reaching said pendent position, whereby to effectually damp oscillations and minimize overrun, said counter-weight including,

a casing fixed to rock with said spindle, separate chambers in said casing interconnected througha constricted opening, and a body of liquid in said casing and free to move from one chamber to the other under the force of gravity.

3. In lightsignals and like devices, in com-- bination, a spindle pivoted to rock on a hori zontal axis from a pendent, de-energized position, to an energized position, and a counter-weight movable with said. shaft and capable of shifting the center of gravity of its mass toward said axis upon movement of said spindle to energized position, said counter-weight, when at rest in pendent position, being in stable equilibrium,

but upon moving from said energized posi- 7 tion toward said pendent position, reaching a position of stable equilibrium before reach-' ing said pendent position, whereby to effectually damp oscillations and minimize everrun, said counterweight including, a casing fixed to rock with said spindle and depending therefrom, a central partition in said casing dividing the interior thereof into two chambers situated respectively at opposite sides of a vertical line through said spindle, when in the pendent position, a constricted opening in said partition at the lower end of the same, and a body of mercury in said chambers free to pass from chamber to chamber under the force of gravity.

4. In a light signal, in combination, a spindle pivoted to rock on a horizontal axis from a pendent, de-energized position indicating danger, to an energized position indicating a relatively unrestrictive condition, and a counter-weight movable with said shaft and capable of shifting the center of gravity of its mass toward said axis upon movement of said spindle to energized position, said counter-weight, when at rest in pendent position, being in stable equilibrium, but upon first moving from said energized position toward said pendent position, reaching a position of stable equilibrium before reaching said pendent position, whereby to effectually damp oscillations and minimize overrun and prevent momentary losing of a. danger indication, said counter-weight including, a casing fixed to rock with said spindle and depending therefrom, a central partition in said casing dividing the interior thereof into two chambers situated respectively at opposite sides of a vertical line through said spindle, when in the pendent position, a constricted opening in said partition at the lower end of the same, and a body of mercury in said chambers and free to pass from chamber to chamber under the force of gravity, an aperture through the upper part of said pa 1'- tition connecting said chambers to allow the passage of air, and means fixing said casing to saldspmdle. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN L. OSBORNE. 

